PETA says no to Bigfoot hunting

Updated 3:07 pm, Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Rick Dyer, 36, says he killed an 8-foot-tall Bigfoot in San Antonio in 2012 with a 30-06 rifle after he lured “the Beast” near his tent with a set of Wal-Mart ribs he rubbed with a secret ingredient.

Rick Dyer, 36, says he killed an 8-foot-tall Bigfoot in San Antonio in 2012 with a 30-06 rifle after he lured “the Beast” near his tent with a set of Wal-Mart ribs he rubbed with a secret ingredient.

Photo: Courtesy Rick Dyer

Image 3 of 32

Rick Dyer, 36, says he killed an 8-foot-tall Bigfoot in San Antonio in 2012 with a 30-06 rifle after he lured “the Beast” near his tent with a set of Wal-Mart ribs he rubbed with a secret ingredient.

Rick Dyer, 36, says he killed an 8-foot-tall Bigfoot in San Antonio in 2012 with a 30-06 rifle after he lured “the Beast” near his tent with a set of Wal-Mart ribs he rubbed with a secret ingredient.

Photo: Courtesy Rick Dyer

Image 4 of 32

Rick Dyer

Rick Dyer

Photo: BigfootTracker.com

Image 5 of 32

Rick Dyer

Rick Dyer

Photo: BigfootTracker.com

Image 6 of 32

Rick Dyer, 36, says he killed an 8-foot-tall Bigfoot in San Antonio in 2012 with a 30-06 rifle after he lured “the Beast” near his tent with a set of Wal-Mart ribs he rubbed with a secret ingredient.

Rick Dyer, 36, says he killed an 8-foot-tall Bigfoot in San Antonio in 2012 with a 30-06 rifle after he lured “the Beast” near his tent with a set of Wal-Mart ribs he rubbed with a secret ingredient.

Photo: Courtesy Rick Dyer

Image 7 of 32

Photo: Mj

Image 8 of 32

This fuzzy video shown at the Big Foot conference is supposed to be the face of Bigfoot, according to a group of lay researchers who say they have evidence he's out there.

This fuzzy video shown at the Big Foot conference is supposed to be the face of Bigfoot, according to a group of lay researchers who say they have evidence he's out there.

Photo: Eric Berger

Image 9 of 32

Rick Dyer, left, and Matthew Whitton answer questions during a news conference Friday at which they claimed to have a dead Bigfoot in their possession.

Rick Dyer, left, and Matthew Whitton answer questions during a news conference Friday at which they claimed to have a dead Bigfoot in their possession.

Photo: BEN MARGOT, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Image 10 of 32

Rick Dyer

Rick Dyer

Photo: BigfootTracker.com

Image 11 of 32

Rick Dyer

Rick Dyer

Photo: BigfootTracker.com

Image 12 of 32

Huge, smelly and hairy, this mythical ape-man has vexed believers who say he exists. The California filmmakers of this famous 1967 image said this was the real thing, but doubters have said the creature looked to be holding a metal thing that looked suspiciously like a beer can. less

Huge, smelly and hairy, this mythical ape-man has vexed believers who say he exists. The California filmmakers of this famous 1967 image said this was the real thing, but doubters have said the creature looked ... more

Folks in Cotton Island, La., said this 14-inch footprint was left by a Bigfoot creature in 2000. But anthropologists said the track was too shallow for an animal the size of Bigfoot.

Folks in Cotton Island, La., said this 14-inch footprint was left by a Bigfoot creature in 2000. But anthropologists said the track was too shallow for an animal the size of Bigfoot.

Photo: AP Photo/Daily Town Talk, Todd Drumwright, AP

Image 15 of 32

This image comes from the 1976 movie, ''The Legend of Bigfoot,'' made by an animal tracker named Ivan Marx who said this really, really was a Bigfoot in Washington.

This image comes from the 1976 movie, ''The Legend of Bigfoot,'' made by an animal tracker named Ivan Marx who said this really, really was a Bigfoot in Washington.

Photo: Getty Images

Image 16 of 32

More shadowy Bigfoot sightings, this time in a northern Georgia forest in June of 2008. Bigfoot Global LLC provided this image.

More shadowy Bigfoot sightings, this time in a northern Georgia forest in June of 2008. Bigfoot Global LLC provided this image.

Image 17 of 32

A close-up of the 2008 ''Bigfoot of Georgia.''

A close-up of the 2008 ''Bigfoot of Georgia.''

Photo: Bigfoot Global, LLC

Image 18 of 32

Hunter Rick Jacobs showed off this image taken in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest in 2007. Was it Bigfoot or a bear with a bad skin infection?

Hunter Rick Jacobs showed off this image taken in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest in 2007. Was it Bigfoot or a bear with a bad skin infection?

Photo: AP Photo/Rick Jacobs

Image 19 of 32

More proof of Bigfoot: A giant footprint found in Northern California and now on display in the state's Willow Creek-China Flat Museum. It's known for its Bigfoot exhibit.

More proof of Bigfoot: A giant footprint found in Northern California and now on display in the state's Willow Creek-China Flat Museum. It's known for its Bigfoot exhibit.

Photo: Associated Press

Image 20 of 32

Bigfoot hunter Tom Biscardi holds a photo of what he claims to be the mouth and teeth of a deceased Bigfoot or sasquatch creature during a news conference on Aug. 15, 2008, in Palo Alto, Calif.

Bigfoot hunter Tom Biscardi holds a photo of what he claims to be the mouth and teeth of a deceased Bigfoot or sasquatch creature during a news conference on Aug. 15, 2008, in Palo Alto, Calif.

Photo: (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Image 21 of 32

Not exactly ''irrefutable evidence'' … but something made those prints on display at the Bigfoot Discovery Museum in Felton, Calif., near the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

Not exactly ''irrefutable evidence'' … but something made those prints on display at the Bigfoot Discovery Museum in Felton, Calif., near the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

Photo: Christine Delsol, San Francisco Chronicle

Image 22 of 32

Interesting how the toes of Bigfoot prints are always so ... perfect-looking. This print is a copy of another print made in 1963, supposedly found near where the famous 1967 Bigfoot film was made. The footprint is on display at the Willow Creek-China Flat Museum in California. less

Interesting how the toes of Bigfoot prints are always so ... perfect-looking. This print is a copy of another print made in 1963, supposedly found near where the famous 1967 Bigfoot film was made. The footprint ... more

Photo: Michael Macor/San Francisco Chronicle

Image 23 of 32

This is John Kirk, president of the Scientific Cryptozoology Club in Burnaby, B.C., in 1999.

This is John Kirk, president of the Scientific Cryptozoology Club in Burnaby, B.C., in 1999.

Photo: Lorne Green/file Photo

Image 24 of 32

More perfect toes, this time in snow circa 1951, from the Menlung Basin in Nepal. They allegedly belong to the ''abominable snowman'' or ''yeti.''

More perfect toes, this time in snow circa 1951, from the Menlung Basin in Nepal. They allegedly belong to the ''abominable snowman'' or ''yeti.''

Photo: Popperfoto/Getty Images

Image 25 of 32

This image, circa 1961, of monster-like footprints came from an expedition to Mount Everest.

This image, circa 1961, of monster-like footprints came from an expedition to Mount Everest.

Photo: Popperfoto/Getty Images

Image 26 of 32

This sign is from Pikes Peak Highway in Colorado.

This sign is from Pikes Peak Highway in Colorado.

Photo: John Yang, Signspotting.com

Image 27 of 32

Now for some photos showing the important cultural significance of Bigfoot. In 1976, the ''Bionic Woman'' (pictured) had to turn to Bigfoot to help save the ''Six Million Dollar Man's'' life.

Now for some photos showing the important cultural significance of Bigfoot. In 1976, the ''Bionic Woman'' (pictured) had to turn to Bigfoot to help save the ''Six Million Dollar Man's'' life.

Photo: ABC Via Getty Images

Image 28 of 32

How did the bionic heroes encounter Bigfoot? When the ''Six Million Dollar Man'' was trying to set up an earthquake warning system, of course. The actor known as ''Andre the Giant'' played Bigfoot in the two-part episode. less

How did the bionic heroes encounter Bigfoot? When the ''Six Million Dollar Man'' was trying to set up an earthquake warning system, of course. The actor known as ''Andre the Giant'' played Bigfoot in the ... more

Photo: ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images

Image 29 of 32

Bigfoot was also key to the 1980s John Lithgow movie, ''Harry and the Hendersons.''

Bigfoot was also key to the 1980s John Lithgow movie, ''Harry and the Hendersons.''

Photo: Universal City Studios, Inc

Image 30 of 32

Here's the ape-man model from the 1977 movie ''Yeti.''

Here's the ape-man model from the 1977 movie ''Yeti.''

Photo: Getty Images

Image 31 of 32

No need for shaky film footage when you can sketch Bigfoot, like in this depiction by artist David Johnson. So Bigfoot chasers, to win that $1 million, you have until March 13, 2014, when the contest ends.

No need for shaky film footage when you can sketch Bigfoot, like in this depiction by artist David Johnson. So Bigfoot chasers, to win that $1 million, you have until March 13, 2014, when the contest ends.

Photo: David Johnson

Image 32 of 32

PETA says no to Bigfoot hunting

1 / 32

Back to Gallery

For many, Bigfoot hunter Rick Dyer is one part Andy Kaufman and one part PT Barnum, carting around a Sasquatch carcass for display.

Rick Dyer, 36, describes himself as a “master tracker” of Bigfoot.

This week, Dyer and his management team announced they would be taking the Bigfoot specimen he allegedly shot and killed in the San Antonio area on tour across the country.

Dyer is due to hit the Houston area sometime in mid-February. He will tow the corpse behind a 40-foot coach in a trailer.

Dyer said he killed the 8-foot-tall Bigfoot in 2012 with a 30-06 rifle after he lured “the beast” near his tent with a set of Walmart ribs he rubbed with a secret ingredient.

On Tuesday, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department weighed in on Bigfoot, saying that as far they are concerned you can kill as many of the (as-of-now-mythical) creatures as you want.

“We don't acknowledge that one exists. But if you wanted to shoot and kill a Bigfoot in the state of Texas, you would just need a hunting license,” Major Larry Young, game warden with Texas Parks and Wildlife, said Tuesday.

The folks at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals don't think that Bigfoot is real, but do feel strongly about those that would shoot something exotic for sport.

"The bottom line is, when someone sees a rare, exotic animal their first instinct shouldn't be to shoot and kill it," said PETA spokesperson Lindsay Rajt. "Just because you see something pretty, that doesn't mean it should be mounted on your wall."

If anything the hunting and killing of a fictional animal teaches a lesson about hunting culture in general. According to Rajt, the popularity of hunting for sport is in decline, and has been since the late 1970s.

"Wildlife watching is gaining popularity over hunting," she said.

"As an organization we do oppose hunting of any kind. It's cruel and unnecessary and can damage populations and ecosystems," Rajt said.

To PETA there is no difference between a fishing lure or a gun when it comes to hunting and killing animals.